Extension device



` Feb 11, 1930. s. o. BIGNY ET Ax. 1,746,457 m EXTENSION DEVICE Filed April 25," 1929 A TTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 11, 1930 ma f AssIeNoEs To s. o. EIGNEY'&` COMPANY; 0E

roRATIoN or" ivi-AssACiTUsETTs App-ligation mea Aprn 2s,

`The present invention` relates to improvements 1n extension devices for flexible bracelets, and is particularly adapted for watch bracelets for holding a wrist watchfonfthe armofthe wearer. l p i I i Extension devices of this characterhave heretofore beenl latched when folded together in closed position, by the coaction of` a resilient and a fixed member.` The constant latching and unlatching has heretofore resulted innan'ap'preciable wear of the fixed member, thus decreasing the `holding or securing effect when inflatched position, and

` has necessitated` frequent replacement of the `part containing the fixed member.`

\ Applicants improvedv extension Vdevice utilizes the coaction cfa-resilient `and a rotatable memberfthus greatly increasing the life of thedevice; yin addition, the rotatable memberlmay be readily and quickly changed A without replacement of `the part in which it is mounted. f

\ ",With these` and further` advantages in `view, the invention includes certain novel featuresl of construction, more fully described and illustrated in the following speciiication and the accompanying drawings, andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims. A r

`In the drawings: `Figure lis a top plan view of the extension device', in closed position;

Figure`2"is a top plan view ofthe extension device, in open, extended position;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of thev extension device, in open, extended position;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the device in initial latching position;

Figure 5 is 4a sectional elevaton of the device in closed position, and e Figure 6 is a perspective view of the rotat- .able latching member.

Referring to the drawings, particularlyA PATENT OFFICE y v SIDNEY oJEIGNEY AND NATHANIET; SANDEEEG," 0E ATTLEEoRo, iirAssACnUsETTs,

EXTENSION DEVICE 1929. .serial` No. ;357,4s2.

clamping one end 14 of a channel member. ,Y

The end link 12 has a strap retaining member .15 hinged at16 at one end thereof, which retaining member comprises two jaws 17 and 18 between which the other end of the flexible strap is rigidly held. The intermediate link 11 isconnected tothe channel member ,i

and the end link byhinges 2O and 21. Longit-udinallyV disposed ribs 22 and 23 are used for strengthening the intermediate and end links. y

Considering Figure 3, the hinge 2O com- ATTLEEoEo, MASSACHUSETTS, A COR- iiexible strap to the u prises a1 pin 21, positioned in the sides 22a l and 23.a of thechannel member 10, and two hinge sections24 and. 25 which are preferably formed by blanlring the end of intermediate` section 11 in the form of a U and rolling the eyes 25 and 26 of the U.

IPositioned on the pin 21 between the hinge sections 24 and 25 is a roller 27 which functions a s one of the latching members. A resilient tongue 28, cnt in the end-link 12, is

movable into the space 29 between the eyes 25 `and 26, to `engage the roller 27` for latching the intermediate and end links together. The strap` retaining member 15 is slightly wider than the distance `between the channel sides 22 and 23` and when in the closed position shown in Figure 5, locks the latched intermediate and end links to the channel section. A finger tab 30 is `provided on the channelsection 10 to facilitate opening of the extension device. e Applicants use of roller 27 as a member of the latching mechanism facilitates the latching,.prevents excessive wear by `constantly presenting new latching surfaces, and localizes the wear to a readily replaceable, inexpensive element. Y x `The foregoing description is directedtowards the specific construction illustrated, butwe desire it to be understood that we reserve the privilege of `resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

We claim:

l, 1. An extension device forflexible braceice lets, comprising two members pivotally connected together at one of their ends, means on each member for securing a bracelet end thereto, a resilient latching element on one of said members, and a cooperating latching element movably mounted in the other member, said other member having an opening through which the resilient latching element extends to engage the movable element, whereby the two members may be held in folded position, and may be expanded when the latching element is disengaged from the movable element.

2. In an extension devicefor flexible'bracelets, a plurality of members pivotally connected together, means for securing bracelet ends to the free ends of said members, a resilient latching element Von one of said members, and a cooperating latching freely rotatable cylindrical roller mounted in another of said members, whereby the members may be held in folded position, and may be expanded when the latching element is disengaged'from the cooperating roller.

3. An extension device for flexible bracelets, comprising two members pivotally connected together at one of their ends, means onfeach member for securing a bracelet end thereto, a resilient latching element onT one member, and a cooperating latching element replaceably mounted on the last mentioned member, said other member having an opening through which the resilient latching element extends to engage the cooperating latching element, whereby the two members may be held in folded position, and may be expanded when thelatching element is disengaged from the cooperatm element.

4. In an extension device or flexible bracelets, a plurality of members pivotally connected together, means for securing bracelet ends to the free ends of said members, a resilient latching element on onev of said members, and a replaceable cooperating latching freely rotatable cylindrical roller mounted in another of said members, whereby the members may be held in folded position, and may be expanded when the latching element is disengaged from the cooperating roller.

\ 5. In an extension device for flexible bracelets, two members hingedly connected 'together, means on each member for securing a bracelet endthereto, a resilient latching element on one member, and a movable cooperating latching element mounted in the other member, said other member having an opening through which the resilient latching element extends to engage the movable latching element, whereby the two members may be held in folded position, and may be expanded when the latching element is disengaged from the movable element.

6. In an extension device for flexible bracelets, two members hingedly connected together, means on each member for securing a bracelet end thereto, a resilient latching element on one of said members, and a cooperating latching freely rotatable cylindrical roller mounted in the other of said members, whereby the two members may be held in folded position, and expanded when the latching element is disengaged from the cooperating roller.

7 In an extension device for flexible bracelets, a plurality of members hingedly connectedv together, means for securing bracelet ends to the free ends of said members, a resilient latching element on one member, and 'a cooperating latching element replaceably mounted in a second member, said second member having an opening through which the resilient latching-element extends to engage the cooperating latching element, whereby the members may be held in folded position, and extended when the latching element is disengaged from the cooperating element.

8. In an extension device for flexible bracelets, two members hingedl connected together, means on each mem er for securing a bracelet end thereto, a resilient latching element on one of said members, and a replaceable cooperating latching freely rotatable cylindrical roller mounted in the other of said members, whereby the two members may be held in folded position, and expanded when the latching element is disengaged from the cooperatmg roller.

9. In an extension device for flexible bracelets, a channel member, a pin positioned in the channel sides thereof, an intermediate link having separated arms hinged on said pin, a roller on said pin between said arms, an end link hinged to said intermediate link, and a resilient tongue on said end link adapted to contact said roller for latching engagement therewith upon movement of said links towards each other.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

SIDNEY C). BIGNEY. NATHANIEL SANDBERG. 

